Spaceship Earth/Earth Station

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Spaceship Earth/Earth Station

Spaceship Earth

This icon at the entrance to Epcot is still featuring the story of human communication but the show has changed since the park first opened in 1982. It was first presented by Bell Systems before AT&T took over sponsorship. In 2005, sponsorship for Spaceship Earth transferred from AT&T to Siemens.

Vic Perrin was the first narrator but there are conflicting reports if there was another narrator after him before the ride was rehabbed in May of 1986. Many Disney fans view the narration prior to 1986 as being pompous and lofty compared to later versions of the ride.

When Spaceship Earth emerged from renovation in 1986, it premiered with several changes. The first was that Walter Cronkite was the new narrator. The Islamic scholars that appear after the burning Rome scene had became Islamic and Jewish scholars. The famous "Attention time travelers! Your Time Machine is about to rotate for your return to Earth. Please remain seated at all times" message was added as the ride vehicles rotated backwards. The most noticeable change was that a song called Tomorrow's Child was added as the Time Machines descended down to the unloading area. This popular song was written by Ron Ovadia and Peter Stougaard.

Tomorrow's Child Lyrics

Tomorrow's child.

(Tomorrow's child.)

Gathering gifts from our past.

Tomorrow's child.

(Tomorrow's child.)

Shaping a world that will last.

Holding the spark, as we embark,

on a great journey together we're learning

to reach for hope and desire.

Building a world to inspire.

Tomorrow's child, tomorrow's child,

shining a brand new way,

for the future world is born today.

(Born today.)

Tomorrow's child, lighting the path as we're going.

(Tomorrow's child.)

Tomorrow's child, seeing that knowledge keeps growing.

(Tomorrow's child.)

Searching through time, longing to find,

answers to guide us and dreams to unite us.

Reaching for hope and desire,

building a world to inspire.

Tomorrow's child, tomorrow's child,

shining a brand new way,

for the future world is born today.

(Born today.)

The Walter Cronkite version of Spaceship Earth was retained until 1994 when the ride was updated again with new scenes and new narration by Jeremy Irons. One of the biggest changes during the 1994 rehab was the deletion of the song Tomorrow's Child. Long time park visitors were also disappointed that the newsboy during the newspaper scenes no longer screams "Extra! Extra! New York Daily!" Instead, he has different dialogue. According to Jeff Williams, Planner Associate of the WDW Facility Asset Management Office, the same person was used to perform the newly recorded audio except he was now 13 years older.

The giant Sorcerer Mickey hand was added to the outside of Spaceship Earth during the Millennium Celebration. After the year 2000, the sign was changed to say Epcot. For those who miss hearing Tomorrow's Child, it can still sometimes be heard as an instrumental at the entrance to Epcot.

Earth Station

Located to the south of Spaceship Earth was Epcot's version of Guest Relations. Visitors could make restaurant reservations using the touch-sensitive WorldKey Information Service screens. The system could also be used to access information about all of the attractions, shops, and restaurants at Epcot.

There was also an option to get information from a cast member, who could see and talk back to the guests through a video camera and microphone. Earth Station also had overhead screens that depicted all of the Future World pavilions during the EPCOT Earth Station Film.

Earth Station was replaced by the AT&T Global Neighborhood in 1994 and Guest Relations was relocated near Innoventions East. World Key Information Service screens could be found outside of the new Guest Relations area for awhile but they were gone for good by 1999.

AT&T Sponsorship Signs

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